Today I’ve got another batch of books that I didn’t review. Life is such that there are lots of great books that I just cannot find the time to read and many other books I’m simply not qualified to review. These books tend to find their way into these round-ups of the ones I received and looked at but for one reason or another just couldn’t review. I list them here in the hopes that at least some of them will be of interest to at least some of you!
Christian Apologetics by Douglas Groothuis – The Christian worldview proposes answers to the most enduring human questions. But are those answers reliable? In this systematic text, Douglas Groothuis makes a comprehensive apologetic case for Christian theism—proceeding from a defense of objective truth to a presentation of the key arguments for God from natural theology to a case for the credibility of Jesus, the incarnation and the resurrection. Throughout, Groothuis considers alternative views and how they fare intellectually.
Parenting by God’s Promises by Joel Beeke – All belief is a work of God alone. But parents must not “hinder” their children from coming to Christ, as Jesus’ disciples sought to hinder mothers and fathers from bringing small children to Him (Mark 10:13–16). On the contrary, they must do everything in their power to “bring” their children to the Savior, which means raising their sons and daughters in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). In Parenting by God’s Promises, Dr. Joel R. Beeke explores what this nurture and admonition looks like and offers gems of practical wisdom for parents on topics such as instituting and leading family worship, teaching children, modeling faithful Christian living, and exercising discipline.
Mark by R.C. Sproul – R.C. Sproul’s excellent series of commentaries continues with Mark. In this fifth volume, Dr. Sproul deals with major themes in his easily understandable style. Readers will find invaluable insights into the goals Mark had in writing his gospel, the background for Jesus’ time, and the meanings of some of Mark’s most difficult passages. This introduction to the gospel of Mark is packed with insights and exhortations that will draw the reader closer to the Savior and encourage him or her to a greater depth of love and devotion to Him.
7 Toxic Ideas Polluting Your Mind by Anthony Selvaggio – Two conflicting worldviews, Christian and non-Christian, are in constant friction. Unfortunately, Christians are often unaware when they adopt non-Christian ideas. This book examines seven non-Christian ideas that cripple the Christian mind.
Time for The Talk by Steve Zollos – Time for The Talk will help fathers walk their sons through one of the most important conversations of their lives. “The Talk” is much broader than just a talk about sexuality; it’s a conversation about manhood, about right decisions, about Christ. Time for The Talk will help you give your son what he needs to steer through the moral and spiritual confusion of this world and make wise, godly, character-forming decisions. You will be equipping him to enter true manhood—a passage that many young men today simply never make.
The Course of Your Life by Matthias Media – This in-depth, topical Bible study for small groups is essentially a framework to help you apply the word of God to people’s lives prayerfully and intensively. The subtitle is “a personal revolution”, and that’s what the course seeks to do—to revolutionize hearts and minds by focusing on the central and profound issues of who God is, what he has done in Christ, what his extraordinary plans are for the world and for us, and how that generates a whole new agenda for the course of our lives: to be disciple-making disciples of Jesus.
How Jesus Runs the Church by Guy Prentiss Waters – There are many fine books available on the offices of church leadership. Few, if any, address for a contemporary audience the biblical foundations of the government of the church. But this should be a priority for us, because God emphasizes the government of his church throughout Scripture. Why should we be church members? How do church officers reflect Jesus’ reign over us? Where do the church’s responsibilities begin and end? Where do ours? These, and other important questions, are answered in Guy Prentiss Water’s vital examination of How Jesus Runs the Church. At a time when church authority is treated with contempt, it’s important that we honor God in our churches more than ever.
On Earth As It Is In Heaven by Wyman Richardson – This book is a call to reclaim regenerate church membership and an examination of the responsibilities and privileges of membership in the local church.
Galatians, Ephesians (Volume 10, Reformation Commentary on Scripture Series) edited by Gerald Bray – (I’m not ready to praise this series too heartily yet since only one volume has been released, but it does look promising.) The range of comment on Galatians and Ephesians here spans Latin, German, French, Dutch and English authors from a variety of streams within the Protestant movement. Especially helpful in this volume is Gerald Bray’s editorial presentation of the development of tensions among the Reformers. The epistles of Galatians and Ephesians open up a treasure house of ancient wisdom, allowing these faithful Reformation witnesses to speak with eloquence and intellectual acumen to the church today.
